Shaft seal with internal drive



June A. J. MATTER 2,472,257 2 sun-"1' SEAL wm-x INTERNAL DRIVE Filed Aug. 4, 1945 i a 77 m Patented June 7,

2,472,257 SHAFT SEAL WITH INTERNAL DRIVE Albert J. Matter, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Crane Packing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 4, 1945, Serial No. 608,870

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to seals for relatively rotatable structures such as a shaft and a housing therefor, andparticularly to such seals which utilize sealing surfaces disposed in a radial plane.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a seal'of the character described which will be very compact and inexpensive to make.

In seals which utilize sealing surfaces disposed in a radial plane it is necessary to provide a sealing washer having a sealing surface formed thereon, a flexible resilient sealing sleeve having one end in engagement with the washer and the other end in engagement with one of the relatively rotatable elements, a drive for the washer to relieve the sealing element of driving torque and a spring or other resilient device for maintaining the washer in sealing engagement with the cooperating surface of the other relatively rotatable elements.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a drive for the washer of a seal of the type described which performs the additional function of effecting a seal with one of the relatively rotatable elements and also with one end of the resilient flexible sealing member.

A still more specific object of this invention is to provide a seal wherein a driving sleeve is provided for the washer of the seal, this sleeve having an enlarged end surrounding a shaft or similar device, with a resilient deformable ring of rubber or the like compressed between the en'- larged end and the shaft, and a sealing member having a pair of spaced rings with a foldtherebetween, one ring being compressed upon the exterior of the enlarged end of the driving sleeve and the other end being compressed against the back of the sealing washer.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial section of a seal incorporating the features of this invention taken along a plane assing through the axis of rotation of one of the sealing members; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken in a radial plane along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, there is shown for urposes of illustration, a shaft l having a shoulder ll formed by an enlarged region I! which is supported by means of a bearing l3 from a housing M or other device in which shaft l0 rotates. Said housing It has an opening it therein which with shaft II defines a chamber I6 which is in communication with bearing l3 and is adapted to receive lubricant from said bearing. The end of chamber l6 opposite bearing I3 is defined by a closure plate ll which is secured by bolts H3 or otherwise to housing l'l.

Closure plate I! is formed with an axially inwardly extending flange l9 having a radially disposed surface 20 which constitutes one of the sealing surfaces of the sealing device. Said sur face 20 is preferably ground and finished with a sufficiently smooth surface to adapt it (for use in preventing the escape of fluid therealong. Adjacent flange I9 is a sealing washer H which is formed with an axially extending nose 22 having a radially disposed surface 23, likewise suitably ground and finished, so that when rotated relative to surface 20 and in contact therewith it will effect a seal between washer 2! and closure plate l1.

Washer 2i is driven from shaft l0 by means of a driving sleeve 24 which has an internal diameter at its smallest region 25 slightly larger than the diameter of shaft Hi to provide a clearance therebetween. At one end (Fig. 2) sleeve 24 is provided with one or more bosses 26'which fit into corresponding slots 21 formed on the inside of washer 2| whereby a sliding driving connection is formed therebetween. This" connection permits washer 2| to move axially relative to sleeve 24, but prevents rotation of the washer relative to the sleeve under the influence of the friction developed between the cooperating seal-' ing surfaces 20 and 23. At its opposite end (Fig. 1) sleeve 24 is enlarged as shown at 28 so as to form a space between enlarged end 28 and shaft l0. A resilient ring 29 preferably of synthetic rubber is compressed between enlarged end 28 and shaft l'0 to provide a fluid-tight seal between sleeve 24 and shaft [0. Because of the tightness of the fit between end 28, ring 29 and shaft ill a relatively rigid drive of sleeve 24 is likewise provided. Between enlarged end 28 and the remainder of sleeve 24- is a connecting shoulder. 30 which ispreferably located in a radial plane so that it can be utilized to push ring 29 on shaft I 0 when the seal is to be installed upon the shaft.

The back surface 3| of washer 2| is preferably made perfectly flat so that'a seal may be readily effected between the washer and the sealing means utilized to make a fluid-tight connection between the washer and sleeve 24. In the form chosen for illustration the sealing means is comprised of a sleeve 32 of resilient deformable material such as rubber or the like, either natural or synthetic or a combination of the two having a flange 22 at one end adjacent washer 2|, a substantially cylindrical region 24 at the opposite end and a thin flexible inwardly extending fold ll connecting the flange with the cylindrical region. A conical surface II is formed on the exterior of cylindrical portion 24 adjacent fold II and a garter spring 21 encircles the sleeve between the back of flange], and the said conical surface 3' so that an axial force is developed tending to separate the ends of the sealing sleeve.

Cylindrical region 34 of sleeve 32 is of substantial thickness and is initially of a smaller internal diameter than the external diameter of the enlarged end 2! of sleeve 24 so that when the cylindrical region is slid over the enlarged end 2! a considerable force is developed in the cylindrical region to provide a fluid-tight seal between the said cylindrical region and the enlarged end 2|. In order properly to locate cylindrical region 24 on enlarged end 28, a flange 38 is formed on the end of the enlarged region 28, said flange, if desired. terminating in a reverse bend I! which may be compressed upon cylindrical region 24 to preload the said cylindricalregion upon the enlarged-end 2|.

It should be noted that in addition to the seal eifected between enlarged end 28 and region 24, a further seal'is established by the pressure of spring 21 on conical surface I which in turn is compressed against the corner in sleeve 24 formed at the juncture of shoulder 20 and enlarged end 22.

The seal is preferably assembled by first sliding cylindrical region 34 upon the outside of enlarged end 28 of sleeve 24 until flange 38 is encountered. The reverse bend is then compressed upon the cylindrical region to insure a fluid-tight seal between the cylindrical region and the driving sleeve. With the sealing sleeve 22 secured to driving sleeve 24, ring 29 is then inserted into the enlarged end 28, the garter spring 31 is expanded over flange 33 and into the space between the flange and the cylindrical region and washer 2| is indexed over bosses 26. It iscontemplated that spring 31 will be completely unloaded, i. e., it will exert no axial force at the point where the back region of slot 21 in washer 2| is in engagement with the front,

i. e., the right-hand (Fig. 1) end of the boss 20 so that there will be no dimculty in properly positioning the washer with respect to the driving sleeve during the installation of the seal.

With the various elements assembled as above described, the seal is then threaded over the end of shaft II and pushed backward in the direction pf it until ring 29 abuts shoulder II or the bearing 12 itself, as the case may be. After the seal is in place on the shaft, closure plate I1 is securedto housing by bolts it and in so .I doing washer 2| will be forced backward against the action of spring 31 until it assumes theposi- 3 ,ti'on shown in Fig. 1. .Any necessary adjustments between closure plate I1 and the seal itself may be made bya proper selection of gasket 4| asis the-usual practice in the assembly of this typeof seal.

In operation, ring 29, driving sleeve 24 and cylindrical region 34 of the sealing member 32 will be axially fixed relative to shaft l0 and will rotate with the shaft. The rotation of driving sleeve 24 will cause a similar rotation of washer 2| because of the driving connection 26, 21 therebetween. Any weaving or misalignment between washer and driving sleeve. Spring 31 will be eflective at all times to exert an axial component of force between conical surface 22 and flange ll of the sealing member 32 and this axial force will be transmitted through flange 22 to washer 2| so that the sealing surface 22 thereof will be constantly maintained in engagement with sealing surface 24 on flange ll. As the washer wears, the fold II will be extended so that a continuous seal is effected between washer 2| and driving sleeve 24 despite the movement of washer 2| along the shaft.

It should be noted that the smallest outside diameter of sealing sleeve 22 is greater than the smallest diameter of sealing surface 23 so that a small degree of balancing of fluid pressures on opposite sides of washer 2| is efl'ected. Obviously this balancing may be increased by increasing the outer diameter of the fold 25 relative to the outer diameter of sealing surface 23.

It is obvious that the material from which the various elements Just described are made will be so selected that they will not deteriorate under the conditions and in the environment in which they are intended to function. Thus ring 29 and sealing sleeve 22 can be made of neoprene or some other synthetic rubber which is impervious to oil and lubricants, and driving sleeve 24 may be made of steel it the environment is oily or it may be made of brass, stainless steel or other noncorrosive metal if the environment is such as to produce corrosion. It is understood further that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and that the scope of this invention therefore is not to be limited thereto but is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealing device for relatively rotatable elements comprising a sleeve concentric with and spaced from one of the elements, an enlarged part at the end of the sleeve, means compressed radially between the enlarged part and the said one element to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween and to provide a drive for the sleeve, a sealing surface on the other element, a sealing washer having a sealing surface in engagement with the first-mentioned sealing surface, flexible means having one end in fluid-tight engagement with the ,exterior'surfaceof the enlarged part. the

other end in fluid-tight engagement with the a fluid-tight seal therebetween and to provide a drive'for thesleeve, a sealing surface on the other the washer and closure plate I! will be accom- 'modated by the relatively loose flt between the toward the middle of the sleev element. a sealing washer surrounding the sleeve and having a sealing surface in contact with the first-mentioned sealing surface, flexible tubular means having a cylindrical part at one end in fluid-tight engagement with' the exterior surface of the enlarged part, a flange at the other end in fluid-tight engagement with the washer and a fold extending from the enlarged part radially and a slidable driving connection between the washer and sleeve.

8. A seal for relatively rotatable structures. one of said structures having a radially disposed sealing surface, said seal comprising a washer having a sealing surface thereon adapted to cooperate with the first-mentioned surface to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. a driving sleeve concentric with and spaced from the other of said structures, a siidable driving connection between the sleeve and washer, a sealing ring compressed radially between the sleeve and the other of said structures to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween and to drive the sleeve from the said other structure, a sealing element having a substantially cylindrical part at one end in contact with the sleeve, a flange at the other end in contact with the washer and a flexible radially inwardly extending fold connecting the flange and cylindrical part; said cylindrical part having a conical surface adjacent the fold, and resilient means disposed between the conical surface and flange and tending to separate the said conical surface and flange, whereby to produce a pressure upon the flange and adiacent washer in a direction to urge the sealing surface of the washer against the sealing surface of the said one structure.

4. A seal for relatively rotatable structures, one of said structures having a radially disposed sealing surface, said seal comprising a washer having a sealing surface thereon adapted to cooperate with the first-mentioned surface to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, a rigid sleeve having at one end a siidable driving connection with the washer, a shoulder near the other end.

6 an enlarged portion connected to the shoulder. a flange extending radially outwardly from the enlarged portion and an axially extending flange at the end of the radial flange, said axial flange overlying the enlarged portion to form an annular recess; means for effecting a seal between the sleeve and the other of said structures. a sealing element surrounding the sleeve. one end of said sealing element being compressedin said recess, the other end being radially abutting the washer and the intermediate portion being in the form of a radially inwardly disposed fold; and resilient means acting between the ends of the sealing element to maintain a seal between the sealing element and washer and to maintain the sealing washer in contact with the radially disposed sealing surface on the said one relatively rotatable structure.

ALBERT J. MATTER.

nsrnnnmcns crrnn The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,224,449 Schmied Dec. 10. 1940 2,264,983 Karlberg Dec. 3, 1941 2,347,118 Matter Apr. 18, 1944 'FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,898 Australia 1040 

